Ring twisting apparatus



Dec. 20, 1960 w. BAKKER RING TWISTING APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1958 INVENTOR. WILLEM BAKKER BY United States Patent RING TWISTING APPARATUS Willem Bakker, Arnhem, Netherlands, assignor to American Enka Corporation, Enka, N.C., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 15, 1958, Ser. No. 748,635 Claims priority, application Netherlands July 20, 1957 7 Claims. (Cl. 57-34) The present invention relates in general to the ring twisting and winding of artificial yarn into package form and more particularly to a ring twisting apparatus having a depressible ring holder for forming transfer tails outside that area of a yarn collecting tube which is normally occupied by the yarn package.

While not limited to such in its application, this invention is particularly adapted for use on ring twisting machines utilizing what is referred to in this art as an auxiliary winding ring. A ring twisting machine of this type is shown and described in copending application Serial No. 691,882, filed October 23, 1957, which on April 14, 1959, matured to Patent No. 2,881,583, and which is owned in common with the present application. In such an apparatus, an auxiliary ring is freely-rotatably or otherwise supported by the twisting spindle at or near the lower end of a winding or collecting tube also carried by the spindle. The auxiliary ring is circumferentially disposed between the outer surface of the collecting tube and the twisting ring, whereby upon depression of the latter outside or below the normal winding stroke, yarn passing through a ring traveler carried thereby will be directed onto the winding surface of the auxiliary ring. The auxiliary ring, per se, forms no part of this invention and, consequently, will be discussed hereinafter only in general terms of cooperation with the twisting ring.

Twisting rings of the type presently under consideration normally are secured to a tube system which slidably embraces one or more traversing rods extending vertically downward from a traversing beam, in a direction parallel to the spindle axis. The tube system normally is detacha-bly secured to the rods by a quick release locking me-hanism. In the latched position of the locking mechanism, the tube system, twisting ring, and traveler reciprocate with the rods, as in normal package building, while in the released position of the locking mechanism the tube system slides freely on the reciprocating rods and thereby maintains the twisting ring in a stationary depressed condition in lateral or radial alignment with the aforesaid auxiliary winding ring during continued reciprocation of the rods, for tailmaking or other purposes as is known to this art.

The machines discussed herein are particularly suited for use in the drawing and twisting, or drawtwisting, of yarn formed from synthetic linear polycondensation products, such as polyamides and polyesters. When starting the drawtwisting operation, or after replacing. a filled bobbin with one which is empty, the tube system of the package building mechanism is usually uncoupled so that the twisting ring and traveler remain opposite or in alignment with the winding surface of the auxiliary ring during continued reciprocation of the traversing beam and rods. Consequently, undrawn yarn initially supplied to the twisting device is directed toward and collected upon the auxiliary ring. This operation is continued until uniformly drawn yarn emerges through the traveler, after which the twisting ring and tube system may be shifted upwardly slightly in order to wind a transfer tail on a surface of the collecting tube outside that to be occupied by the package. After a suitable transfer tail has been formed, the twisting ring and tube system may be shifted upwardly still farther and coupled with the reciprocating rods by the locking mechanism previously mentioned; This normal or operating condition, during which the twisting ring is reciprocated with these rods, is maintained until a dofiing operation is desired or becomes necessary.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the twisting ring may occupy three distinct positions of adjustment during one package building cycle. The first position is that in which the twisting ring directs yarn onto the outer surface of the auxiliary winding ring, this being the outermost position. The twisting ring is temporarily maintained in this first position by the effect of gravity and by suitable stop means. In the second position, which is even more temporary than the first, the ring directs yarn onto the collecting tube for tailmaking purposes, the tail appearing outside that portion of the tube which receives the package. This position may be referred to as transient, since the machine operator momentarily holds the twisting ring at what he considers the desired position while the transfer tail is formed. The third position, which continuously varies over the length of the traverse stroke, it that occupied during normal package building, and the twisting ring is maintained in this position by the locking mechanism discussed above.

For purposes of this description, a transfer tail may be defined as the exposed trailing end of a yarn package which is readily accessible for tying onto the leading end of a second package. Transfer tails of this type are generally used on warping machines so as to provide an indefinite supply of running yarn without interruption, but of course are useful in other operations requiring a length of yarn greater than that contained in a single package. The transfer tail obviously may be wound onto either end of the yarn collecting tube, but with depressible twisting rings of the type herein under consideration, the tail usually is formed on the lower end of a tube rotating about a vertical axis. The twisting ring is held in tail-making position only momentarily by the machine operator. It will be evident, since the collecting tube at this stage is empty, that there is no guide indicating the correct portion of the collecting tube on which the tail should be formed. Consequently, determination of the correct position requires considerable skill, and an operator very seldom succeeds in winding the transfer tail exactly at the same position on each collecting tube.

An object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a repressible ring type twisting machine not having the disadvantages of known mechanisms.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means on a depressible ring twisting apparatus for enabling the machine operator to readily determine the exact position on successive collecting tubes at which the transfer tail should be formed.

Still another object of this invention is to provide means on a depressible ring type twisting machine for inhibiting uncoupled movement of the twisting ring relative to the traversing mechanism at the exact point where a transfer tail should be formed.

A further object of the present invention is to provide automatically operating means on a depressible ring type twisting apparatus for restraining uncoupled movement of the twisting ring relative to the traversing mechanism at the exact point where a transfer tail is desired but which subsequently will release the twisting ring for coupling with the traversing mechanism upon application of additional pressure by the operator.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in this art.

The mechanism to be described more fully hereinafter restrains raising of the twisting ring from the lowermost uncoupled position to the coupled position at an intermediate point for tailmaking purposes, but does notprevent continued upward travel of the ring after the tailmaking operation. This function is accomplished in accordance with the present invention by a displaceable abutment mechanism having two stable positions of adjustment. The first stable position is inthe path of travel of a cooperating projection on the twisting ring, in which position movement of the projection is restrained by the abutment mechanism, and the second position is outside the path of said projection, in which position no res-training action occurs. The first position of adjustment is such that the twisting ring faces, or is radially aligned with, the lower end of the yarn collecting tube. Upon application of additional pressure on the twisting ring, resulting in further upward movement thereof, the projection forces the abutment mechanism into the inoperative second position.

7 It is preferred to utilize a switching pin and a restraining abutment mechanism comprising a fork shaped bell crank adapted to pivot about a horizontal axis between the aforesaid two positions of adjustment, and to stabilize the same by spring-urging the mechanism into each of these positions. Either the switching pin or the abutment mechanism should be mounted on the twisting ring holder, and the other element should be mounted on a stationary portion of the machine frame. These elements should be aligned so that in the uncoupled lowermost position of the twisting ring the switching pin lies between the tines of the fork shaped bell crank. Upon raising of the twisting ring to the intermediate tailmaking position, however, the switching pin should contact the inner surface of one of the tines. Further upward movement of the twisting ring to the normal coupled position results in displacement of the tine bythe switching pin, permitting the latter to pass the former without further resistance to movement. The aforesaid spring means should maintain the abutment mechanism in this position until another tailmaking operation is necessary or desired.

Although the bell crank mentioned above may becon- :structed in various shapes and forms, it is preferred that the tines be aligned in a vertical plane and that the lower tine constitute one leg of a metal strip bent or otherwise (formed into a U-shaped body and that trunnions be formed on opposite sides thereof near one end. It is also preferred that an inverted channel shaped frame member be provided with elongated slots or cup-shaped recesses for receiving and supporting the bell crank trun- :nions, and that a coiled bell crank spring extend between the channel member and a mounting means midway between the bell crank tines in order to spring urge the same into the two extreme positions of adjustment much in the manner of a spring loaded toggle mechanism.

Further description of the preferred embodiment will now be given with particular attention directed to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is an elevational view, partly in section, of a ring twisting machine such as described above, with the twisting ring coupled to the traversing mechanism and with the abutment mechanism of this invention in inoperative position;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of a preferred abutment mechanism in inoperative position, taken along the line 22 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is an elevational view corresponding to Figure 2, but showing the abutment mechanism in operative or restraining position.

The present invention will be described in connection with a single twisting and winding position, although it is pointed out that a conventional ring twisting machine 4 is equipped with a plurality of such positions. Accordingly, it is should be understood that application of this invention will not be limited to the single position shown, but may embrace all of the positions on a modified ring twisting machine.

The aforesaid single twisting position is designated generally by reference numeral 10 in Figure 1. This position 10 consists of a twisting spindle 11, a twisting ring 12, a traversing beam 13 and an auxiliary winding ring 14. The spindle 11 is suitably mounted for rotation about a vertical axis by means not shown and may be driven through pulley 15 by a drive belt, also not shown. A yarn receiving or collecting tube 16 is positioned over spindle 11 for rotation therewith in known manner. Winding ring 14 also is rotated with spindle 11 and functions to collect yarn initially supplied by twisting ring 12, as fully explained in said Patent No. 2,881,583.

Traversing beam 13 usually extends the length of a ring twisting machine and is reciprocated in a vertical plane corresponding to a normal traverse stroke of twisting ring 12 by cam or other means not shown. Twisting ring 12 is supported by ring holder 17 which extends rearwardly of spindle l1 and terminates in a tube system 18. This tube system embraces traversing rods 20 which are secured at the upper ends thereof to the traversing beam. Tube system 18 is quick detachably latched to the traversing beam and traversing rods through a known mechanism indicated generally by reference numeral 21. Slack or clearance eliminating means 22, which forms the subject matter of copending Patent No. 2,909,026, dated October 20, 1959, and also owned in common with this application, is mounted between the traversing beam 13 and tube system 18. The function and operation of this mechanism is fully described in said copending patent, to which attention is directed it further explanation is desired.

For purposes of this invention, it is sufficient to state that ring holder 17, twisting ring 12 and tube system 18 may be uncoupled from traversing beam 13 and traversing rods 20, and that the twisting ring may be manually adjusted to various vertical positions relative to traversing rods 20, despite continued reciprocation of the latter. This operation per se is well known to the twisting art.

The three primary positions of adjustment for twisting ring 12 are indicated in Figure l by solid lines (position A), broken lines (position B) and chain-dotted lines (position C). 'In position A twisting ring 12 is coupled to traversing beam 13 and of course reciprocates vertically therewith relative to twisting spindle 11. In positi'on B ring 12 is uncoupled from the traversing mechanism and is manually supported in alignment with the lower end of collecting tube 16 while a transfer tail is formed thereon. In position C,the ring holder 17 is urged by gravity into contact with stop or limit means 23, which stop means is so adjusted that twisting ring 12 faces or is in radial alignment with auxiliary winding ring 14 for initial collection of undrawn or non-uniformly processed yarn fed through ring traveler 24.

A switching pin 25 projects from the rear face of tube system 18. This pin may be secured to the tube system by any suitable means, and should extend therefrom a sufiicient distance to intercept the tines of the novel abutment or restraining mechanism 26 to be described presently. This mechanism is supported from stationary frame member 27 by a bracket 28, which may be bolted or otherwise secured at one end to the frame 27 and at the other end to the channel shaped sub-frame 30 of the abutment mechanism.

, The restraining mechanism 26 (see particularly Figures 2 and 3) consists primarily of a U-shaped body 31 having parallel spaced side walls 32, 33. The side wall 32 is cut or otherwise formed into the general shape of a bell crank having fork like extensions or tines 34, 35, separated by an'ope'n space or recess, as shown in the drawings. Intermediate the base of the body 31'and the unsupported ends of walls 32, 33 are secured trunnions 36, 36' (only one of which appears in Figures 2 and 3). Trunnions 36, 36 are fitted within and supported by elongated slots or openings 37, 37 in the depending legs of channel shaped sub-frame 30. It is preferred that the trunnions 36, 36 be so located that the center of gravity of body 31 lies to the left of the pivotal support, as viewed .in Figures 2 and 3, for a purpose to appear.

A coiled spring 38 is provided not only for maintaining the trunnions 36, 36 snugly positioned in slots 37, 37, but also for resiliently urging the body 31 into each of the two extreme positions of adjustment. This spring is secured at one end to one leg of sub-frame 30, with the other end thereof secured at 40 (Figure 2) to an internal surface on the base of U-shaped body 31. Any suitable hook or bolt means may be used for this purpose.

It should be noted that securing means 40 is located substantially midway between tines 34, 35. By virtue of this, -as well as the location of the pivotal axis of trunnions 36, 36 and the location of the means securing the opposite ends thereof, the spring 38 will urge body 31 into either the uppermost or the lowermost position, depending upon which side of trunnions 36, 36 the spring rests. Body 31, therefore, is resiliently urged into either of two stable positions of adjustment. Thus, to shift body 31 from the Figure 3 position to the Figure 2 position, it is necessary only to rotate the same until spring 38 lies on the other side of the axis alforded by trunnions 36, 36. The spring, which is mounted under tension, will tend to contract, thereby rotating the body about its pivotal axis. This rotation will continue in the counterclockwise direction until surface 41 on wall 32 engages the base of channel shaped sub-frame 30 (see Figure 2), or in the clockwise direction until the other end 42 of wall 32 engages this same base (see Figure 3). In the event that spring 38 becomes broken or ruptured during use, the effect of gravity on body 31 will shift the same to the normal or upper position indicated in Figure 2 and the same will not be damaged upon reciprocation of the traversing mechanism.

The aforesaid switching pin 25, projecting from tube system 18 into the vertical plane of tines 34, 35, is used for automatically shifting body 31 into each of the two stable positions of adjustment. Figure 2 represents the upper stable position of adjustment, and switching pin 25 is there shown at approximately the bottom of a normal traversing stroke, since in this position the twisting ring and tube system are positively coupled to the traversing mechanism and reciprocate therewith. This corresponds to position A in Figure 1.

At the end of a twisting operation, or when it is desired to replace a filled tube 16 with one which is empty, latching mechanism 21 is operated to release the twisting ring, ring holder and tube system from engagement with the traversing system. The twisting ring thereupon may be depressed to position C with ring holder 17 resting on stop means 23. With the ring depressed in this manner, switching pin 25 carried by tube system 18 will drop from the position shown in Figure 2 to the lowermost or dotted line position shown in Figure 3. In so dropping, pin 25 will engage tine 34 and shift body 31 until spring 38 lies below the pivotal axis of trunnions 36, 36. Thereupon, body 31 will snap into the position shown in Figure 3, with pin 25 remaining depressed as shown. Twisting ring 12 now rests in radial alignment with the temporary yarn collecting surface on auxiliary winding ring 14 which, as stated, is the position indicated at C in Figure 1, and the relative position between pin 25 and the tines 34, 35 is as shown by dotted lines in Figure 3. If desired, the pin could be located intermediate the solid and dotted lines of this figure, in actual con-tact with neither of the tines 34, 35, upon appropriate adjustment of the relatively movable parts. It is important, however, that pin 25 not contact upper tine 35 in position C of ring 12, for reasons to appear.

Undrawn or non-uniformly processed yarn 43 V is fed" from a supply source not shown to traveler 24 and thence onto winding ring 14. As soon as drawn or uniformly processed yarn emerges from the traveler, the tailmaking and subsequent package building operation may proceed. This may be accomplished as follows.

The machine operator may manually shift uncoupled ring holder 17 vertically upward until a resistance to further movement is detected. This resistance is caused by contact of switching pin 25 with upper tine 35, which tine was previously shifted into the path of pin movement by the action of spring 38. This position of pin 25 is shown in full lines in Figure 3, and the corresponding position of twisting ring 12 is indicated at B in Figure 1. At the precise moment that tine 35 resists further movement of pin 25, the ring traveler and twisting ring become aligned with a portion of yarn collecting tube 16 near the lower end thereof, which portion has previously been selected as the desired position of tailmaking. The operator i may now discern that the twisting ring is in the correct position for forming a transfer tail. Consequently, vertical movement of the ring toward coupled position is temporarily discontinued and the operator applies only enough force to maintain pin 25 in contact with tine 35 while the transfer tail is formed.

In view of the high speeds at which machines of this type generally operate, the pause for tailmaking purposes 1S momentary only. As a matter of fact, ten convolutions of yarn or less usually are considered ample for this purpose. As soon as a suitable transfer tail has been formed,

the operator may apply additional pressure or force suflicient to overcome the resistance of spring 38. As a re-' sult of this, body 31 will snap back into the uppermost position shown in Figure 2 and thereby retract tine 35 from the path of pin 25. Further vertical travel of the twisting ring will be unimpeded until tube system 18 en' gages the slack eliminating means 22 and latching mecha-' nism 21, which quick detachably couples the twisting ring to the traversing beam 13 for reciprocation there with, as indicated by position A in Figure 1. This operation of course may be repeated at the end of package building, if further tailmaking is necessary, and the relative positions of the transfer tails will be the same on all tubes. In the event that no transfer tail is desired, thethat the same could be used with any type of twisting machine employing a depressible ring. Further, the restraining mechanism may be constructed in a different manner from that shown. For example, it may consist of a leaf spring, or a spring-pressed ball and socket joint. The switching pin or its equivalent may be mounted on either the depressisble tube system shown, or on a stationary frame member, in which latter case the restraining mechanism should be mounted on the depressible ring assembly. It is necessary only that these two elements have relative motion.

It is also possible, and highly desirable in some instances, to provide an adjustment either for the switching pin or the restraining mechanism in order to vary the position on the collecting tube at which the transfer tail will be formed. Moreover, it is desirable to support adjacent restraining mechanisms from the same channel shaped sub-frame 30, particularly where a large number oithis invention be limited only to the extent set forth in the annexed claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A ring twisting machine comprising a rotatable twisting spindle, a traversing beam-mounted for reciprocation in a plane parallel to the axis of saidspindle, a ring holder meanscoaxially surrounding said twisting spindle and detachably supported by said traversing beam, means for uncoupling said ring holder means from said traversing beam for movement relative thereto, an abutment mechanism mounted in alignment with the path of movement of said traversing beam and ring holder means, and means projecting from one sideof said ring holder means cooperating with said abutment mechanism for restraining uncoupled movement of the ring holder means relative to the traversing beam when the former is aligned with one end of said'twisting spindle.

2. A ring twisting machine comprising a machine frame, a traversing mechanism mounted for reciprocation relative to said frame, atube system for imparting reciprocation to a twisting ring in response to movement of said traversing mechanism, means for detachably coupling said tube-system to said traversing mechanism, a switching pin projecting from said tube system, and an abutment mechanism supported by said machine frame alongside the path of movement of said switching pin, said switching pin and said abutment mechanism cooperating to restrain uncoupled movement of said tube system relative to said traversing mechanism.

3. In a ring twisting machine having aframe, a twistingspindle supported by said frame for rotation about a vertical=axis, a traversing beam mounted for reciprocation in a vertical plane, a ring holder means coaxially surrounding said twisting spindle and detachably supported bysaid traversing beam, the improvement comprising a two-position abutment mechanism supported by saidframe in alignment with the path of travel. of said traversing beam and said ring holder means, and a switching pin projecting from said ring holder means, said switching pin and abutment mechanism cooperating to restrain uncoupled movement of said ring holder means relative to said traversing beam when the ring holder means is radially aligned with the lower end of said spindle.

4. A ring twisting machine comprising a machine frame, a traversing mechanism mounted for reciprocation relative to said frame, a tube system, means for detachably coupling said tube system to said traversing mechanism, a two-position abutment mechanism supported by said frame, resilient means for urging said abutment mechanism either of said two positions, and a switching pin supported by-said tube system and projecting into alignment with said abutment mechanism. said switching pin operating to trip said abutment mechanism alternately into either of said two positions in response to uncoupled movement of said tube system relative to said treversing mechanism.

5: Ina ring twisting machine having amachine frame,.

a rotatable twisting spindle supported by said frame, a traversing beam supported by said frame for reciprocation paraliel to the axis of said spindle, a ring holder means coaxially surrounding said twisting spindle, and' means for releasably coupling said ring holder means to said traversing beam for selective movement with or with respect thereto, the improvement comprising a twoposition bell crank pivotally supported by said machineframe, resilient means for urging said bell crank alternately; into either of said two positions, and means projecting.

from said ring holder means into alignment with said bell crank for automatically switching the same from one position to movement of said ring holder means relative to saidtraversing beam at one end of said spindle.

6. A ring twisting machine comprising a rotatabletwisting spindle, a traversing beam mounted for reciprocation relative to said spindle, a ring holder'co'axially.-

surrounding said spindle and capable of three separate positions of adjustment relative thereto, means detachably couplingsaidring holder to said traversing beam in a first position of adjustment for said ring holder, meanspositively limiting uncoupled movement of said ring holder relative to said traversing beam in a second posi tion of adjustment for said ring holder, and means posi-v tively but releasably restraining movement of said ring. holder toward said traversing beam in a third positionof adjustment for said ring holder.

7. In a ring twisting-machine having a rotatable twisting spindle, a traversing beam mounted for reciprocation relative to said twisting spindle, a ring holder coaxially surrounding said twisting spindle, and means detachably coupling said ring holder to said traversing beam for selective movement either with or with respect thereto, the improvement comprising means in addition to the detachable coupling means for positively but releasably restraining uncouoled movement of said ring holder toward ,saidtraversing beam.

Christiansson July 9, 1957 Eidlow et al. Jan. 27, 1959 the other, and vice versa, upon uncoupled 

